Method and apparatus for wrapping annular objects



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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR OBJECTS Filed Nov. 24, .1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l Hm 5 R ERNST EGER A TTORN E Y5.

Dec. 11%, 1941. E. EGER 2,2665% METHOD MID APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR OBJECTS Filed Nov. 24, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q N g RR &

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; Q p o E M 5 p @gwk M :1 i i I 1H Q M Y B k Ir E. EGER Dec. 1 1941.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR OBJECTS Filed Nov. 24, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet s IN VEN TOR.

ERNST EGER M m W A TTORNEYS Dec. 16, 1941. EGER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR OBJECTS Filed Nov. 24, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V EN TOR. ERNST E GER M I A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED. STATE s PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING ANNULAB OBJECTS Ernst Eger,

Grosse Pointe Park, Mich, assignor to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 24, 1939, Serial No. 365,821

applying the plaited paper to the inner circumference of the annulus of the object, or rim periphery of the tire, folding the paper transversely about the tire, andjoining the marginal portions of the paper at the outer circumference of the annulus of the object or tread of the tire.

In wrapping pneumatic tires it has been customary to provide a wrapper composed of a length of paper ribbon applied spirally around the annulus of the tire, with each individual turn partly overlapped by the preceding turn. Adjacent overlapping in this manner involves duplication of thickness of paper and represents an excessive use of paper in tire packaging. Furthermore, overlapping of adjacent turns of Fig. 6 is a view, in section, of the paper su ply mechanism, taken on lines VI-VI of Fig. 4';

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing a portion of a pneumatic tire with paper being applied thereto; 4

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the annulus of the tire having a wrapper applied thereto;

Fig. 9-is a fragmentary view of link mechanism for transmitting motion to tire clamping and paper engaging mechanisms;

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of paper applying mechanism, taken on line X-X of Fig. 2; s

paper ribbon has often been found ineffective in excluding dust-and dirt from the tire. This condition has been particularly objectionable when the wrapped tires have white sidewalls. .A moderate shock on the periphery of a tire so-wrapped is suilicient to cause rupture of one or more of the turns of paper, resulting in unwinding of the wrapper and necessitating rewrapping.

In wrapping a tire by the machine and method as embodied in my invention, a single sheet of paper is employed to enclose the entire tire, thus providing a continuous envelope which eflectively excludes dust and dirt from the tire.

Among the objects of the invention are, to provide an automatic machine capable of uniformly and efficiently packaging annular articles by a method resulting in economy in wrapping material consumption, increased resistance against rupture, and increased protection of the article. These and other objects and advantages appear more fully in the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof in elevation;

ig. 3 is a rear view thereof in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view of a horizontal paper supply mechanism, partly in section, taken on lines IV--IV of Fi '2; v

Fig. -5 is a diagrammatical end view of the paper supply mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 isa plan view of a drive plate for mov-' ing a part of the tire clamping mechanism into and out of tire wrapping position; and,

Fig. 12 is an end view of a detail of the machine from lineXIIXII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

For the purpose of describing this invention a pneumatic vehicle tire 20 has been selected as an annular object which may be wrapped, and the invention is illustrated in reference to a tire wrapping machine as shown in thev drawings. All of the views of the machine show the parts in the tire wrapping position, that is, the position they occupy when the tire is being wrapped. As will be explained it will be necessary to move certain of the parts to other positions in order to insert the tire in, or remove it from the machine.

Referring to Fig. 2 the tire 20 (shown in dot and dash lines) is held between a lower belt 2| and an upper belt 22. The belts 2| and 22 are driven so as to rotate the tire in the direction of the arrow A, and are provided with grooves 23 to increase thev traction of the belts on the tire.

The beads of the tire are held in relatively close relationship by a pair of rollers 24 (Fig. 1), between which the beads are positioned. As the tire 20 is rotated it is wrapped with wrapping material, such as paper 25, supplied from the roll 26, which extends within the rim perimeter, or

inner circumference 2 1, of the annulus of the tire.

- After the paper strip 25 leaves the roll 26 and before it is applied to the tire 20, it passes through a plaiting mechanism 28 which is shown in detail in Fig. 6, and will be hereinafter described. The plaiting mechanism 28 forms transverse plaits 29 in the paper strip 25 which is then wrapped around the tire 20, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, by applying the longitudinal central portion of the strip of plaited paper 25 circumferentialiy to the rim perimeter 21 of the 66 tire 20, and guiding; or folding the lateralportour thereof until the tire 28 has been rotated through slightly more than a complete revolution so as to provide an overlap for the ends of the strip 25 and complete the tire wrapper 34, shown in cross section in Fig. 8. The'apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method of applying the paper to the tire will now be described.

Paper folding and applying mechanism The paper folding and applying mechanism is best shown in Figs. 2 and 7. Referring particularly to Fig. 7, the paper strip 25 is led from the roll 26 through the plating mechanism 28, which for clearness is not shown in this figure. After being plaited the paper is passed through the feed rolls 35 mounted in the plaiting mechanism 28. The plaited paper 25 is then passed underneath a roll 36 and a shoe 3'! which apply the central longitudinal portion of the paper to the rim perimeter 21 of the tire 28. The paper passes from the roll 36 between the tire 28 and the groups of fingers 38 and 39 which fold the plaited paper 25 transversely around the side walls 38 of the tire. Each of the groups 38 and 39 of fingers have two fingers 48 and 4|, and the corresponding fingers in each group are alike, exceptlefts." The fingers 48 and 4| extend downwardly and forwardly in the direction of rotation of the tire and gradually unfold the plaits 29 from the rim perimeter 21 towards the tread 3| of the tire as the paper progressively passes underneath the fingers. The overall length of the plaited paper 25 on each side of the rim perimeter is thus increased to make the paper conform to the shape of the annulus as it is guided or folded around the transverse contour of the tire. As the paper 25 leaves the forward ends 42 of the groups 38 and 39 of the fingers, the paper passes between the tire 28 and a pair of shoes 43 which fold the paper 25 about the tread circumference 3| of the tire. Only one shoe 43 of the pair is shown, but one such shoe is located on each side of the tire opposite the other, and they bring the edges 32 of the paper 25 sufiiciently close together that they may be joined by the adhesive strip 33 which is applied by a roller 44 to the paper.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the above mechanisms are mounted on an upright support 45 and a base 48 constituting the principal .parts of the frame of the machine. The paper plaiting mechanism 28 is mounted in a fixed position on the upright support 45. When thetire 28 is being placed in the machine its rim perimeter 21 is slipped over the front end of the paper roll 26 and the paper plaiting-mechanism 28. After tread of the tire.

the tire has been placed in the machine, and is ready to be wrapped, the elements of the machine and the tire occupy the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 7. Before this can be done, however, all of the elements which operate directly upon the tire, excepting the paper applying roll 36 mounted in the fixed plaiting mechanism 28, must be moved away from their positions shown in Fig. 2. The lower belt 2| which supports the tire 28 is moved downwardly so that clearance is provided between the rim perimeter 21 of the tire and the paper applying roll 36. The upper belt 22 is pivoted in an upward direction. The rolls 24 which operate upon the side walls 38 of the tire 28, to hold the beads in close relationship, are swung outwardly from the side walls.

The shoe 3! which holds the paper against the rim perimeter 21 of the tire is moved inwardly towards the center of the tire. The groups 38 and 39 of the paper folding fingers are moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, and at the same time are swung away from the side walls 38 of the tire. The pair of shoes 43 which fold the paper around the tread 3| of the tire, and the adhesive paper applying roll 44 together with the adhesive paper supply mechanism are moved to the left, as viewed in Fig.2, and away from the All of such elements are moved more or less simultaneously by apiston rod 41 connected to a piston operating in a cylinder 48. The mechanisms connecting the piston rod 41 to such elements will now be described.

Mechanism for supporting and moving the paper guiding or folding fingers Referring to Figs. 2 and 7 the groups 38 and 39 of fingers are mounted on arms 49 and 58. Since the corresponding fingers 48 and 4| of the groups 38 and 39 are similar, and they are mounted on the arms 48 and 58 in like manner, the mounting of only one group of such fingers will be described. The finger 48 of group 38 is pivotally mounted on the end of the arm 49 at 5|. A spring 52, having one end. attached to the finger 48 to the left of the pivot 5|, and the other end attached to a post 53 on the arm 49, normally resiliently holds the finger 48 in contact with the paper 25 and presses it against the side walls 38 of the tire. A second post 54 fixed to the arm 49 is placed in the path of movement of the left end of the finger 48 to limit the inward movement of the other end of the finger. The finger 4| is mounted ona pivot 55 secured to the finger 48, and is normally moved inwardly against the wrapping paper 25 by a spring 55 having one end secured to an arm 51 on the finger 4| and the other end secured to a post 58 fixed to the finger 48. A post 51a is secured to finger 48 and arranged in the path of movement of a projection on the finger 4| to limit its inward movement.

The finger supporting arms 49 and 58 are keyed to shafts (not shown) which are pivotally mount ed in a post 59 and to which the meshing gears 68 and 6| are respectively keyed. Referring to Figs. 2and 10, the post 59 is fixed to a plate 62 which is slidably mounted in a groove 63 formed in bars 64 supported by the bifurcated ends 65 of the posts 86 extending upwardly from the base 46 of the machine. The plate 82 is provided with a'lug 61 to which one end of an arm 68 is attached. The other end of the arm 58 is secured to the'piston rod 4I which is adapted to held spread apart [of the tire when the piston rod has moved out supported on the plate 82 and move the groups 38 and 39 of fingers away from the center of the tire.

The following described mechanism causes the arms 49 and 58 to spread and move the fingers away from the side walls of the tire. Referring to Figs. 7 and 10, the finger supporting arm 49 is provided with an extension 89 which is rigidly secured thereto at one end and the other end of the extension is provided with a roller 18 which cooperates with a track 1I supported by one of the bars 84. The roller 18 is retained in contact with the track by an air cylinder 12 having air under pressure supplied thereto through a hose 18. The air cylinder 12 is mounted upon a bracket 14 supported on the slidable plate 82. The piston rod 15 is actuated by the piston in the cylinder 12 and is connected to a member 18 which resiliently holds the roller 18 against the track 1 I. I

Referring to Fig. 1,- the track 1| is provided with a straight run 11 extending substantially parallel to the movement of the plate 82, and with an inclined run 18. As the piston rod 41 moves out-of the cylinder it carries with it the arm 88, the post 59, and finger supporting arms 49 and 58. Such movement causes the roller 18 to move first along the straight track 11 and then along the inclined track 18 and swing the groups 38 and 39 of fingers away from the side walls of the tire, As the fingers 48 and 4| (Fig. '7) move outwardlytheir ends adjacent to the pivot points and 55 strike the posts 54 and 81a and prevent the springs 52 and 58 from moving the opposite ends of the fingers further inwardly. The groups 38 and 39 of fingers are and away from theside walls of the cylinder 48 to the end of its stroke.

Mechanism for supporting and moving the adhesive paper applying mechanism, and the shoes which folds the wrapping paper around the tread of the tire.

ably mounted in grooves formed between the the plates 88 the bars 84. The carriage 19 is resiliently connected to the plate 82 by a spring 8| having one and secured to the carriage 19 and the other end connected to the post 59 on the plate. 82.. The

pull the carriage 19 towards the post 59. In the tire wrapping position as shown in Fig.2, the post 59 is spaced away from the carriage 19 and the spring 8| resiliently holds the shoes 48 against the wrapping paper 28. when the plate 82 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, the post 59, which supports the paper folding fingers, strikes against the right end of the carriage and moves it and the paper folding shoes 43 away from the outer circumference or tread 3| of the tire 28. 4

The adhesive paper applying mechanism is mounted in the carriage 19 and it comprises a pair of arms 82 for holding the adhesive paper roll 88 from which is drawn the adhesive strip 89 which is led underneath a roll 85 and through a wetting bath 88 and thence to the paper applying roll 44' which applies the adhesive strip slidable plate 82, and is slid-' which are secured to spring 8| is always under tension and tends to 38 to the wrapping paper at the tread of the v mounted between a pair of arms 88, one on. each side of the carriage 19. The arms 88 are pivoted on the side of the carriage at 89. The extends through slots 98 in the side of the carriage and is adapted to be operated within the slot by a handle 9|. The handle 9| extends across the carriage (Fig. 10) and its ends are supported by one end of a pair of levers 92 which are pivoted on the side of the carriage at 93. The lower ends of the levers 92 are adapted to be moved by the handle 9| against the lower ends of the arms 88 and thereby move the shaft 81 in'the slot 98 and hold the paperapplying roll 44'-away from the tread of the tire until the operator is ready to apply the adhesive paper strip 33 to the wrapping paper 25. When the adhesive tape 93 is being applied to the paper wrapping 25 and the handle 9| is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the paper applying roll 44 is resiliently held against the tread of the tire by a spring 94.

Mechanism for supporting and moving the lower tire holding belt up and down platform I8I carried by a vertical column I82 which is slidable in a socket I83 formed in, a vertical post I84 which is supported by the base 48 of the machine. The platform I8'I carrying the lower belt 2| may be moved downward to provide clearance between the stationary paper applying roll 38 and the tire 28 so that the, tire may be inserted in and removed from the machine. Such movement is effected by means of a linkage mechanism operated from the cylinder 48. Thelinkage mechanism comprises a pair of links I85 having their upper ends pivotally connected to the platform IN, and their lower ends pivotally connected to the ends of a pair of bell crank levers |85a which are pivoted on the post I 84. One arm of each of the levers |85a are connected to a pair of rods I86 through a yoke I81. The rods I88 straddle the post I84 and one of the posts 88. They are connected to a cross head I88 which is operated by projections I89 extending from .the plate 82. The projections I89 are provided with heads II8, which hold the cross head I88 on the projections. The heads II8 are provided with reduced portions III (Fig. 11) which operate in slots H2 in the cross-head. The reduced portions III operating in the slots II2, provide a lost motion connection between the cross-head I88 and plate 82, so that the paper folding and applying mechanism will be partially moved out of and into wrapping position before the lower belt ii is so moved.

Mechanism for supporting and moving the upper tire holding belt up and dam The upper belt 22 (Fig. 2) is supported on pulleys H8 and H4 which are respectively keyed to shafts H5 and H8. The shaft 5 is rotatively mounted on the upright support 45. The shaft H8 is mounted in the movable ends of a spacer rod H1 and a spacer bar I I8. The opposite ends of the rod H1 and bar II8 are pivoted on the shaft I I9 so that the belt 22 can be pivoted about this axis and thereby moved upwardly to permit the removal of the tire from the machine. Referring particularly to Fig. 9 the shaft -I I8 may be moved about the shaft 5 by a vertically exshaft 81 tending bar II9 which may be operated up and down by the piston in the cylinder 48. The upper end of the bar I I8 is connected to the spacer bar H8 by a pin I20 which is secured to the bar I I8 and extends into a slot I2I formed in the bar II9.- The lower end of the bar H9 is connected toone end of a bell crank lever I22 which is pivoted on a pin I23 fixed in the upright support 45. The other end of the bell crank lever I22 is pivotally connected to one end of a link I24. The other end of the link I24 is connected to an upright arm I25 which is rigidly fixed to the piston rod 41 operated by the cylinder 48.

Mechanism for supporting and moving the inner paper holding shoe toward and away from the rim. perimeter of the tire Referring to Figs. 2 and 9, the shoe 31 which holds the plaited paper 25 to the inside circumference 21 of the tire 20, is secured to an arm I28 having a bifurcated end I21 which straddles the roller 35 and is'fixed to a sleeve I28 which fits over and oscillates on the shaft I29 on which the roller 38 is mounted. As shown in Figs. 4 and 9, an arm I30 is fixed to the left end of the sleeve 25 I28, and a spring I3I is attached at one end to the arm I30 and at the other end to a pin I32, which is fixed in the upright support 45. The spring I3I normally resiliently retains the shoe 31 in contact with the paper 25. When the bar H9 is raised upwardly a pin I33 on the bar II9 contacts with the arm I30 and moves the shoe through the oscillating action of the sleeve I28 and arm I25'away from the inner circumference of the tire 20 so that it may be removed from an insert in the machine.

Mechanism for supporting and moving the rollers for holding the beads of the tire in close relationship As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the rollers 24 for holding the beads of the tire in close relationship are mounted on arms I34 and I35 and may be swung away from the bead portions of the tire 20 by pivoting the arms about the shafts I35 and I31 to which they are respectively fixed. The shafts I35 and I31 are mounted in an arm I38 projecting from the upright support 45 of the frame of the machine. Gears I39 and I40 mesh with each other and are keyed to the shafts I35 and I31 respectively. The shaft I35 may be oscillated by a lever I4I secured to its lower end as shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of the lever I4I is-pivotally connected to the bifurcated end I42 of the bar I43 by'a pin I44. The opposite end of the bar I43 is yieldably connected to the arm I25 fixed to the piston rod 41. The connection is made by a stud bolt I45 fixed to the arm I25 and having a reduced end extending through a slot I45 (Fig. 9) in the bar I43 and provided with a nut for holding the bar I43 loosely on the bolt I45. A compression spring I45a is compressed between the bolt I45 and a projection on the bar I43 to form the yieldable connection between the bar I43 and the arm I25.

Plaitino mechanism Referring to Figs. 4 and 6 the plaiting mechanism 28 is supplied with the wrapping paper 25 from the roll 25, which is supported on a stub shaft I45 having a free end over which the roll 25 is slipped and having its other end fixed to the upright support 45 of the frame of the'machine. The strip of paper 25 is led from the roll underneath a paper tensioning roll I41 and over the top of a plaiting bar I48 to the feed rolls 35, which form a part of the plaiting mechanism 28. A plurality of aligned grooves I49 are formed at the top edge of the bar. I48 between it and a plurality of cleats I50 (Fig. 4) A transverse plate I5I is caused to reciprocate up and down in the direction as indicated by the arrows and its lower end forces a loop of the paper into the grooves I49, which is retained therein when the lower edge of the plate I5I is withdrawn. A transverse plate I52 is caused to reciprocate alternately with the plate I5I and across the tops of the grooves I49 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of the plate I5I. The movement of the plate I52 removes the loop of paper from the grooves I49 and forms a plait 29 therein for each complete reciprocation. As the plaits 28 are formed they are advanced towards the feed -rolls 35 which are rotatedintermittently to adm vance the plaited paper towards the paper applying roll 36.

The plaiting mechanism 28 is supported in a frame consisting of a spacer rod I53 and spacer bars I54 and -I55, and the plaiting bar I48, all of which have one end attached to the upright support 45 and the projecting ends attached to a crescent shaped plate I55 which faces the front of the machine. Referring to Figs. 4 and 6 the tension roll I41 is mounted upon a shaft I51 having its ends (which are shown in Fig. 4 as broken off) mounted in the upright support45 and the crescent shaped plate I55. The shafts I58 and I59 upon which the feed rolls 35 are mounted and theshaft I29 upon which the paper applying roll 38 is mounted are also rotatably mounted in the upright support 45 and the crescent shaped plate I55. The plaiting plate I5I is fixed to a bar I50 having its ends fixed against rotation in blocks I5I which are vertically slidable in guides I52, which are shown in Fig. 4' as cut away to show a spring I63 interposed between the bottom of the guide and the block. Each end of the bar I50 is provided with a'cam roller I54 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6) which are actuated by cams I55 fixed to a shaft I55 having its ends rotatably mounted in the upright support 45 and crescent shaped plate I55. The shaft I55 is driven home sprocket wheel I51 (Figs. 3 and 4) and rotates the cams I55 against the cam rollers I54 so as to move the plaiting plate I5I downwardly against the action of the springs I53 and permit the springs to move the plate in an upward direction and thereby reciprocate the lower end of the plaiting plate I5I into and out of the grooves I48. I

The lower transverse plaiting plate I52 is mounted on a transverse bar I58 having its ends extending through the crescent shaped plate I55 and'the upright support 45. The ends of the bar I 58 are reciprocated by similar mechanisms which are actuated from the shaft I55 and are mounted on the crescent shaped plate I55 and upright support 45 respectively, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Since these mechanisms are alike only one need be described in detail. The mechanisms comprise eccentric discs I59 having eccentric pins I10 connected by links "I to bell crank levers I12 which latter are pivoted on pins I13 to the crescent shaped plate I55 or the upright support 45, as the case may be. The crescent shaped plate I55 and the upright support 45 are provided with guide slots I14, within which the ends of the bar I58 are slidably mounted. The outer ends of the bar I58 are connected to the lower ends of the bell crank 1eversI12 which are oscillated about thepivots I13 and thereby a sprocket 288 keyed thereto and which drives reciprocate the transverse plaiting plate I52 back and forth over the plaiting bar I48 (Fig. 6).

The feed rolls 35 are caused to rotate intermittently by mechanisms actuated from the lower ends of the bell crank levers I12. Such mechanisms comprise links I15 pivotally connected at one of their ends to the ends of the bar I88 and at the other of their ends to-ratchet mechanisms I18 each of which comprise an arm I11 pivoted on the shaft I59 to which the lower feed roll 35' is keyed. The ends of the shaft I59 are intermittently rotated by pawls I18 pivoted on the arms I11. The pawls I18 cooperate with ratchet wheels I19 keyed to the shaft I59. When the pawls I18 are moved in a. clockwise direction by the bar I88, as viewed in Fig. 5, stops I88 prevent the counter-clockwise movement of the pawls I18, and the shaft i59 is moved in a clockwise direction by the pawls. The ratchet mechanisms I18 permit the arms I11 to move in the counter-clockwise direction without producing any movement of the shaft I 59 and thereby produce the intermittent movement of the feed rolls 35 which cooperate with one another.

Mechanism for cutting the strip of wrapping paper spacer bar I55 and is operated by a piston rod I83- connected to a double acting piston in the cylinder I84 (Fig. 4). The movement of the piston in the cylinder I84 is controlled by the mechanism hereinaftento be described which controls the clutch 288-, and it is so controlled that the piston is caused to make a single stroke each time the clutch 288 is disengaged so as to move the circular knife I8I across the plaited paper 25 along the spacer bar I54 and thereby sever the paper each time the plait ng mechanism is stopped.

Mechanism for driving the upper and lower tire supporting belts, the platting mechanism, and the fall which applies the paper to the inner circumference of the tire Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the above mechanisms are driven from a. motor I88 which drives a sprocket I81 having a chain I88 meshing there with and driving a sprocket I89, which is keyed to a shaft I98 mounted atone end in a bracket I9I secured to a post I92 fixed to the base 48 of the machine, and mounted at the other end in the upright support 45. A sprocket I93 is keyed to the shaft I98 and drives a chain I94 which in turn drives a sprocket I95 which is keyed to the shaft H5, upon which the pulley I3 which supports one end of the belt 22 is mounted. The shaft I15 is supported at one end in a bracket I98 secured to the post I92 and is supported at its mid point by a bearing in the upright support 45. A sprocket I91 is keyed to the shaft H5 and drives a sprocket chain l98 which in turn drives a sprocket wheel I99 keyed to. the

7 shaft IIE upon which the other end of the belt 22 is supported on the pulley lit mounted on the shaft.

The lower belt 2! for supporting and rotating the tire 28 is driven from the shaft H5 having a chain 28I, which in turn drives a sprocket wheel 282 keyed to a shaft 288 rotatably mounted in an arm 284 projecting from the upright support 45. A sprocket 285 is keyed to the shaft 283 and drives a sprocket chain 288 (Fig. 2), which in turn drives a sprocket wheel 281, which is keyed to the shaft 98 to which the pulley 98 which supports One end of the belt 2| is secured. The roll 38 which applies the wrapping paper 25 to the inner circumference of the the 28 is mounted on the shaft I29 and is driven from a sprocket wheel 2 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is keyed to the shaft 288 and drives a sprocket chain 2I2 which meshes with a sprocket wheel 2 I3 keyed to the shaft I29. The sprocket chain 2|2 is passed over idler sprockets 2" and 2I8 so that it can engage the sprocket 2 I3.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the plaiting mechanism 28 is driven from the shaft I98 through the clutch mechanism 288' which is adapted to be engaged'with and disengaged from a sprocket wheel 289 rotatively mounted on the shaft I98. The sprocket wheel 289 drives a sprocket chain 2I8 which in turn drives the sprocket wheel I81, which is keyed to-the shaft I88 which drives the plaiting mechanism 28 hereinbefore described.

After a sufllcient length of paper 25 hasbeen plaited to extend around the inner and outer circumferences of the tire 28, the plaiting mechanism is stopped by disengaging the clutch 288 (Fig. 4) by the movement of the lever 2I8 which is pivoted on a pin 2I1 secured to a support 2I8 which extends between the post I92 and upright 45 of the frame of the machine. The upper end of the lever 2I8 is provided with a yoke 2I8a which engages the clutch 288, and the lower end of the lever'2l8 is connected to an arm 2I9 (Fig. 3) fixed to an oscillatable shaft 228 mounted at one end in a bracket 22I secured to the upright support 45. The opposite end of the shaft 228 is mounted in a'bracket 222 (Fig, 1) secured to the upright support 45, and-it is provided with an arm 228 (Fig. 12) which is connected by a link 224 to one end of a. bell crank lever 225 pivoted on a pin 228 mounted in a bracket 221 secured to the base 48 of the machine. The other end of the lever. 225 is provided with a foot pedal 228 which is adapted to be moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 against the action of a spring 229 (Fig. 1) having one end attached to the lower end of the clutch operating rod 2 I8, and the other end attached to a bracket 238 secured to the post I92. The downward movement of the foot pedal 228 disengages the clutch 288 which is normally'held in engagement by the spring 229. The foot pedal 228 is retained in its downward position by a detent 23I (Fig. 2) on one arm of a bell crank lever 232 pivotally mounted on the bracket 221. When the foot pedal 228 is moved downward the detent 23I is moved over the arm of the bell crank sembly 238.

cylinder I84 through openings 235 and 238 (Fig. 4) which are connected respectively to the pipes 231 and 238 (Fig. 1) which lead to the valve as- Air is supplied to the valve assembly 238 through a supply pipe 248 and it is exhausted from the valve assembly through the opening 2. The valve assembly is of the conventional type having a pair of inlet and exhaust valves for controlling the flow of air through the pipes 231 and 238. Each pair of valves is controlled by valve stems 242 and 243 which are provided with the conventional snap acting mechanism which retains one of the valve stems in a downward position and the other in an upward position as viewed in Fig. 1 until such mechanism is reversed. The valve stems 242 and 243 are operated by a lever 244 pivoted midway between its ends on the valve assembly 238. The lever 244 is provided with a slot 245 having notches 246 in each end. A link 24! has a bifurcated end connected to the lever 244 by a pin 248 (Fig. 12) which extends through the bifurcated end and the slot 245. The other end of the link 241 is pivotally connected to a link 248 by a pin 258, and the 1ink243 is pivotally connected to the arm 223 on the oscillatable shaft 220. A snap acting movement betweenthe link 241 and 248 is providedby a spring L connected at one end to a post 252 secured to the link 249 and at the other end to a post 253 secured to the link 241.

The operation of the valve assembly 239 is as follows: Referring to Figs. 1 and 12, when the operator steps on the foot pedal 228 the link 224 pulls the arm 223 and the links 248 and 281 connected thereto so as to move one end of the lever 244 away from the valve assembly 238. pivotal movement of the lever 24d reverses the valves operated by the stems 242 and 283. When the foot pedal 228 is released by the bell crank The lever 232, the pin 248 is pushed to the opposite Controls for the rotary motor drive and cylinder which operate the tire holding and paper folding and applying mechanisms The motor I88 which operates the rotary drive is controlled by a conventional make and break switch 254, and the admission of air to the cylinder 48 is controlled by a conventional valve assembly 255 which is supplied with air through the pipe 258 and admits and exhausts air to the ends of the cylinder 48 throughthe pipes 25! and 258 which are connected respectively to the openings 259 and 268 in the ends of the cylinder 48, the air being exhausted from the valve assembly through the exhaust opening 28 l. The switch 254 and the valves in the valve assembly set are simultaneously operated by a handle 282 which is connected to the switch and the valve assembly through the toggle mechanism 288. In the position shown in Fig. 2 the handle has been moved into position whereby the electrical circuit is made and air is being admitted to the cylinder through the pipe 255 and exhausted from the cylinder through the pipe 251, so as to move the piston rod 41 to the position shown in Fig. 2. In order to break the circuit and to reverse the movement of the piston rod 41 the handle 282 is pushed downwardly.

' Operation I Since the parts of the machine are shown in the position they occupy while the tire isbelng wrapped,'the description of the operation of the machine will be begun with the'parts in such position. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, while the tire is being wrapped it is rotated in the direction of the arrow A by the lower and upper belts 2| and 22,'the paper is drawn from the roll 28 and plaited by the plaiting mechanism 28 and applied to and folded around the transverse contour of the tire by the paper folding and applying mechanisms, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and thelongitudinal edges of the paper are joined on the tread portion of the tire by an adhesive strip 33. Assuming that most of the tire has been wrapped and a suflicient length of paper onthe foot pedal 228 and moving it downward- The detent 23I on a bell crank lever 232 holds the foot pedal in its downward position while the .tire 28 continues to rotate until the entire cut length of plaited paper has been wrapped around the tire and its longitudinal edges have been joined by the adhesive paper strip 33. When this is done the operator moves the handle st to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to move the adhesive-paper applying roll M away from the tread of the tire 28. Then he immediately cuts the adhesive strip between the roll and the tire.

The tire has now been completely wrapped and in order to remove it from the apparatus the operator pushes down on the handle 262 which operates the switch 254 to break the circuit of the motor i188 and thereby stop the rotation of the tire 28. When the handle 252 is pushed downwardly the valves in the valve assembly 2% are actuated so as to admit air to one end of the cylinder 88 and exhaust it from the otherend, and thereby move thepiston rod 21 outwardly from the end or the cylinder 58 and cause all of the elements operating directly upon the tire, excepting the paper applying roll 36. to move away from their wrapping positions substantially simultaneously. Fig. 2, the paper folding fingers so and M are moved to the left and away from the walls of the tire, and the carriage 18 which support the paper folding shoes 43 and the adhesive paper strip applying mechanism is also moved to the left. The lower tire supporting belt 2! is moved downwardly and the upper belt 22 is swung upwardly about the shaft H5 while the tire bead positioning rollers 24 are swung outwardly and the inner paper holding shoe 31 is swung inwardly towards the center of the tire. When the parts are moved in such positions the tire can be removed from the machine. and another tire to be wrapped can be inserted.

The next tire to be wrapped is slipped over the ends of the wrapping paper roll 28 and the tire plaiting mechanism 28, and its annulus is inserted between the pairs of fingers 38 and 4| In reference to s tread of the tire is supported by the lower belt 2|. The operator then pulls the switch and valve handle 262 upwardly so as to start the motor I86 and move the piston rod 41 inwardly and thereby return the parts of the machine to the position shown in Fig. 2. With the parts in such position the tire is rotated and held' in position to be wrapped. The operator then releases the foot pedal 228 and permits the clutch 208'to be engaged and thereby start operation of the plaiting mechanism 28. The paper then begins to be applied to the inner circumference of the tire and to be folded transversely around the tire. when the paper wrapping 25 comes opposite the adhesive paper applying roll 44 the operator wets the end of the adhesive and applies it to the longitudinal edges of the wrapping paper to join them together. The operator then releases the adhesive paper applying roll 44 with the handle 9| so that it will be resiliently pressed by the spring 94 against the tread of the tire and thereby unite such edges as the tire is rotated. After most of the tire has been thus wrapped and sufiicient paper has been plaited to extend around the inner and outer circumfer-,

ences of the tire with at least some lap, the plaiting mechanism is stopped and the paper is cut and the tire is then removed from the machine.

and the bead positioning rollers 24 while the gaging same, means for driving both of said belts,

means extending within the inner circle of the I object for supporting a roll of wrapping material, means for forming transverse plaits in the wrapping material, means for applying the plaited wrapping material to the outer surface of the.

object along such inner circle, means for guiding the material around the transverse contour of the object, and means located between said belts for applying an adhesive strip of material around the outer periphery of the wrapped object and to the marginal portions of the wrapping material whereby such portions are secured together.

4. An apparatus for wrapping a tire, comprising means for supporting and rotating the tire, rollers for engaging the opposite sides of the tire close to the beads for maintaining the beads in relatively close relationship, 'means for progressively wrapping a sheet of wrapping material around the transverse contour of the tire as the material is applied circumferentiallyto the rim periphery of the tire, said wrapping means comprising a plurality of fingers curved to the transverse contour of the tire to resiliently engage the tire wrapping material for smoothing the wrapping material and causing itto conform to the a transverse contour of the tire, and means for sively applying a sheet of wrapping material having doubled over transverse plaits circumferentially to the rim perimeter of the tire, means for guiding the material around the transverse contour of the tire, means for securing the longitudinal margins of the material together along the tread of the tire, and means for supporting and continuously rotating the tire while the above mentioned means operate on the tire and wrapping material.

2. An apparatus for wrapping an, annular object comprising means for supporting and rotatmoving said fingers into and out of operating engagement with the tire wrapping material.

5. An apparatus-for wrapping an annular object, comprising means for supporting and rotating .the object, means for holding a roll of wrapping material within the inner circle of the an nulus of the object, means extending within suchinner circle for plaiting the wrapping material, said plaiting means comprising a transverse member having a groove formed therein, a transverse reciprocating plate having an edge adapted to reciprocate into and out of said groove and force the wrapping material into said groove, a plate having an edge adapted to reciprocate across said groove and form folds in the wrapping material, means for advancing the plaited wrapping'material into contact with the inner circumference of the object, means for guiding the plaited wrapping material around the transverse contour of the object, and means for setion of rotation of the tire, progressively wrapping the plaited paper around the transverse tially surrounding the annulus of the object in a I transverse direction forguiding the material around the transverse contour of the object so as to gradually unfold said plaits toward the outer circumference of the object, and means for securing the longitudinal margins of the material together along the outer circumference of the object.

' 3. An apparatus for wrapping :an annular object comprising a pair of spaced belts adapted to be moved toward and away from the outer periphery of the object for engaging and disencontour of the tire, applying pressure to the plaits as the tire is r tated so as to cause the plaits to gradually unfold from the rim circumference towards the tread of the tire and lie close to the surface of the tire, severing the paper transversely from the supply roll upon substantial completion of the circumferential wrapping, and joining the margins of the paper circumferentially at the outer periphery of the tire.

7. The method of wrapping a tire comprising the steps of rotating the tire, holding the beads of the tire in a position closer together I than their normal position, continuously drawing a sheet of wrapping paper from a supply roll extending within the circle of the tire rim, forming continuous plaits in the wrapping paper transversely of its length and progressively applying the plaited paper directly to the rim circumference of the tire so that the transverse edges of the outer overlapping layers of the plaits face in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tire, progressively wrapping the plaited paper around the transverse contour of the tire and simultaneously unfolding of the plaits as the plaited paper is progressively wrapper toward the outer circumference of the tire and the tireis'rotated, severing the paper transversely from the supply roll upon substantial completion of the circumferential wrapping, and applying an adhesive strip of material to the crown of the wrapped tire for joining the longitudinal margins of the wrapping paper.

8'. An apparatus for wrapping an annular object comprising means for progressively applying a sheet of wrapping material having continuous transverse doubled over plaits to the inner circumference of the annulus of the object,

means extending substantially around the trans-.

thereof, means for securing the longitudinalmargins of the wrapping material together along the outer circumference of the annulus and means for supporting and rotating the object so as to carry said material successively into cooperation with the several aforesaid means acting thereon simultaneously during the rotation of the object.

9(An apparatus for wrapping an annular object comprising means for progressively applying a sheet of wrapping material having continuous transverse doubled over plaits to the inner circumference of the annulus of the object, means for progressively wrapping the material around the transverse contour of the annulus and unfolding the plaits towards the outer circumference thereof, means for securing the longitudinal margins of the wrapping material together along the outer circumference of the annulus, means for supporting and rotating the object so as to carry said material successively into cooperation with the several aforesaid means acting thereon simultaneously during the, rotation of the'object, means for moving said transverse wrapping means away from and towards said object to permit the object to be placed upon the support and to permit said wrapping means to operate upon the wrapping material.

10. An apparatus for wrapping an annular object comprising means for forming transverse plaits containing folded over material in the and means for continuously rotating the object while said foresaid means are operating upon the wrapping material and to carry the wrapping material from one station, to another to be operated upon.

11. The method of wrapping an annular object with material having transversely extending plaits containing over-lapping layers, comprising the steps of continuously rotating. the object during the operation of the method, progressively applying a sheet of wrapping material to the inner circumference of the object so that the transverse edges of the outer overlapping layers of plaits face in the direction opposite to the direction of the rotation of the object, progressively wrapping the material around the transverse contour of the object, and progressively unfolding the plaits from the inner circumference of the object towards the outer circumference thereof, applying pressure to the plaits as the tire is rotated so as to cause them to lie close to the surface of the object with the edges of the outer layers facing in the direction opposite to the direction of the rotation of the object, and securing the longitudinal edges of the material together on the outer circumference of the object.

12. The method of wrapping a pneumatic tire with material having transversely extending plaits containing overlapping layers, comprising the steps of continuously rotating the tire during the operation of the method, forming transversely extending plaits having overlapping layers in a strip of wrapping material, progressively applying the plaited strip of material to the rim periphery of the tire so that the transverse 1 edges of the outer overlapping layers of plaits face in the direction opposite to the direction of ,rotation of the tire, progressively wrapping the material around the transverse contour of the tire, and progressively unfolding the plaits from the rim periphery of the tire towards the tread surface of the tire, applying pressure to the plaits as the tire is rotated so as to cause them to lie close to the surface of the tire with the edges of their outer layers facing in the direction opposite to the direction of the rotation of the tire, and securing the longitudinal edges of the material together opposite the tread surface of the tire.

13. if'he method of wrapping a pneumatic tire with material having transversely extending plaits containing overlapping layers, comprising the steps of continuously rotating the tire during the operation of the method, forming transverse- 1y extending plaits having overlapping layers in a strip of wrapping material, holding the beads of the tire relatively closetogether, progressively applying the plaited strip of material to the rim periphery of the tire so that the transverse edges of the outer overlapping layers of plaits face in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tire, progressively wrapping the material around the transverse contour of the tire,

' and progressivelyunfolding the plaits from the rim periphery of the tire towards the tread surface of the tire, applying pressure to the plaits as the tire is rotated so as to cause them to lie close to the'surface of the tire with the edges of their outer layers facing in the direction opposite to the direction of the rotation of the tire, and securing the longitudinal edges of the material together opposite the tread surface of the tire.

ERNST EGER. 

